Richard Maltby Jr., the director who guided Ain't Misbehavin' and Fosse to Broadway, is staging and co-creating the new Johnny Cash-inspired musical, Ring of Fire, in its test run at Studio Arena Theatre in Buffalo, Sept. 2-Oct. 9.

The world premiere, subtitled The Johnny Cash Musical Show and conceived by William Meade, will move to San Francisco's Curran Theatre in January 2006 before heading to Broadway in March 2006.

Singer-songwriter Cash, a country music and blues legend, died in 2003. The new theatrical event features six actors and eight musicians, bringing theatrical life to his classic story songs. The show will not feature an actor playing Cash, who was known for his fondness of wearing black—he was known as "The Man in Black," which is also the title of his autobiography.

According a Studio Arena announcement, "This amazingly inventive and exciting world premiere musical revue brings to life through words and music, the stories made famous in Johnny Cash's songs. The show features 38 of the music legend's songs such as 'Country Boy,' 'A Thing Called Love,' 'Five Feet High and Rising,' 'Daddy Sang Bass,' 'Ring of Fire,' 'I Walk the Line,' 'I've Been Everywhere,' 'The Man in Black,' and his final hit, 'Hurt.'''

The cast will include country music star Lari White, who is playing "middle woman." Maltby won a Tony Award for conceiving and directing the Fats Waller musical Ain't Misbehavin'. He co-conceived and directed the dance retrospective, Fosse, which won a Tony Award for Best Musical. He was the co-author of the international smash hit musical Miss Saigon and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Song and Dance. His work with composer David Shire includes Big; Baby; Closer Than Ever; Starting Here, Starting Now and the still-developing show, Take Flight.

"Taken together, Johnny Cash's songs seem to tell an almost mythic story of America," director and co-creator Maltby said in a statement. "hat's what we're attempting to put on stage. I think the humanity, the humor, the sexiness, the emotional depth will be a revelation to most theatre audiences. I am very proud and excited to bring this truly unique world premiere production to Studio Arena Theatre's audiences."

Jim Freydberg, who is co-producing the show for Broadway, said in a statement, "I am excited that we licensed this production to Studio Arena Theatre. "The quality of work being done at this theatre is impressive and it is a great opportunity for us to have a Buffalo premiere of the same show that will be going on to Broadway."

Tickets for the Buffalo engagement of Ring of Fire go on sale 9 AM Aug. 1. Tickets can be purchased at the box office located at 710 Main Street, by calling the box office at (716) 856-5650 or (800) 77STAGE or online at www.studioarena.org.